[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 16 (Friday, January 26, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES


                    First LIEUTENANT JACOB N. FRITZ

  Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Army 1LT 
Jacob N. Fritz of Verdon, NE.
  Lieutenant Fritz graduated from Dawson-Verdon High School in 2000. 
His peers and teachers recognized him as a natural leader. He was 
active in every extracurricular activity his school offered: speech, 
drama, basketball, football, track, and band. He organized drug-free 
parties and dances.
  After high school, Lieutenant Fritz followed his dream of serving in 
the Armed Forces by enrolling in the Military Academy at West Point, 
graduating in 2005. His younger brother, Daniel, followed in his 
footsteps and is currently a third-year cadet at West Point.
  Lieutenant Fritz had been serving in support of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom, assigned to A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field 
Artillery Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, based in Fort Richardson, 
AK. On Saturday, January 20, 2007, Lieutenant Fritz passed away when 
his dismounted patrol received indirect fire followed by small arms 
fire in Karbala, Iraq. He was 25 years old.
  1LT Jacob Fritz is survived by his parents, Lyle and Noala Fritz of 
Verdon, NE, and his two younger brothers, Daniel and Ethan. I offer my 
sincere condolences to the family and friends of Lieutenant Fritz. He 
made the ultimate and most courageous sacrifice for our Nation. I join 
all Americans in grieving the loss of this remarkable young man and 
know that Lieutenant Fritz's passion for serving, his leadership, and 
his selflessness will remain a source of inspiration for us all.


                     Sergeant Major Marilyn Gabbard

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor SMA Marilyn 
Gabbard of the Iowa Army National Guard. The first woman ever promoted 
to the rank of Command Sargent Major in the Iowa Army National Guard, 
Sergeant Major Gabbard was deployed to Iraq on December 16, 2006, and 
died in a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crash on January 20, 2007, at 2:45 
pm local Iraq time. Her colleagues said of her that she was a role 
model for other women in the Iowa National Guard, and her rise through 
the enlisted ranks was inspirational. She is remembered as a respected 
soldier and caring leader who always put her soldiers first. Her 
military decorations include three awards of the Meritorious Service 
Medal. My prayers go out to Marilyn's husband Edward and her seven 
children and stepchildren, her mother Mary Van Cannon, as well as her 
grandchildren and all her family and friends. SMA Marilyn Gabbard will 
be greatly missed. She leaves behind her a legacy of military 
achievement, immense compassion, and patriotic service. I hope that 
those who have been touched by her loss will find some comfort in the 
knowledge that her memory will live on like those countless other 
heroes throughout American history who have given their lives for our 
country.


                         Sergeant Tommy Rieman

  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute to Army SGT 
Tommy Rieman, a native of Independence, KY, who received the military 
Silver Star for exceptional courage. He exhibited this courage when 
insurgents attacked his reconnaissance squad near the Abu Ghraib prison 
in Iraq on December 3, 2003. His selfless act of bravery and 
unwillingness to fail exemplify the true definition of a soldier.
  Sergeant Rieman grew up in Independence, a small town in northern 
Kentucky. While at Simon Kenton High School, he was captain of the 
football team and was a member of the wrestling team, before he 
graduated in 1999. Sergeant Rieman was a teenager, pumping gas at a 
local gas station when he decided to enlist in the Army. This 
monumental decision he made to begin his exceptional military career 
would go on to shape his destiny.
  While serving in Iraq, Sergeant Rieman showcased immense calm under 
pressure, when his squad came under attack by insurgents. With the 
convoy under heavy fire from rocket-propelled grenades and explosive 
devices, he used his own body as a shield to protect his squad gunman 
and returned fire to the enemy. The humvees that the squad was 
traveling in did not have any doors, so as a result Sergeant Rieman 
suffered two bullet wounds and multiple shrapnel injuries. Despite 
these injuries, he was still able to direct the convoy off the road and 
away from the live fire combat, only to be attacked by another smaller 
group of insurgents. Sergeant Rieman commanded and led his squad to 
return fire, and the enemy's weapons were silenced. At this point, the 
situation was calm and he was able to call a medical helicopter to 
treat the injuries of these brave soldiers.
  After returning from Iraq, in August 2004 Sergeant Rieman was awarded 
a Silver Star for his brave actions that day in Fort Bragg, NC. He is 
now employed as an administrative assistant for the Army personnel 
office in the Pentagon. In May 2006, he was selected to be a 
participant in the ``America's Army: Real Heroes'' video game program, 
which recounts the lives of military soldiers who have shown heroism 
and bravery in the war on terror. Sergeant Rieman will have his 
military history and motivational story told through this game, with 
the hope of inspiring others to greatness.
  On January 23, 2007, Sergeant Rieman was a guest of the First Lady 
and was formally recognized by President Bush, who discussed his 
bravery in the annual State of the Union Address to Congress. He stated 
that Sergeant Rieman, like so many other Americans who have volunteered 
to defend us, had earned the respect of the Nation. I cannot agree with 
this statement more. It brings me great pride to see a soldier of the 
caliber of Sergeant Rieman represent Kentucky in such a courageous and 
selfless way. He is an inspirational example to me and to the entire 
Commonwealth.

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